'A banana republic!' Nigel Farage left raging as Labour confirms some local elections could be delayed again

Plans to delay the elections will mean millions of Britons will face longer waits to have their say at the ballot box.

Reacting to the news, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "Turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

"Tory county councils look set to collude with Labour to keep their control until 2027."

He added: "Only a banana republic bans elections."

Some councils had raised concerns elections could divert substantial time and resources away from delivering local government reorganisation, as new councillors only serve briefly before their councils are replaced with new ones.

Elections in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire, East and West Sussex were already postponed this year until 2026.

Surrey County Council had its elections delayed this year however, voters are expected to go to the ballot box in May.

Meanwhile, Hampshire County Council has made clear it will not push for a further delay.

Under controversial plans, Labour is looking to end the two-tier system of county and district councils, instead creating several larger councils covered by a directly elected mayor with additional devolved powers.

New, unitary authorities are expected to be up and running in April 2028.

Local government minister Alison McGovern said: "We have listened to councils who’ve told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished.

"Our goal is to create new councils who can improve services for residents and it is only right that we listen to councils," she added.

Speaking on the decision to delay local elections, Ms McGovern made clear Whitehall does not wish to dictate local decisions without consultation and they will "listen to local leaders" on what is right for each area.

She said: "To be clear, should a council say that they have no reason to delay their elections, there will be no delay,” the minister said.

"If a council voices genuine concerns, we’ll take these issues seriously, and would be minded to grant a delay in those areas."

In the wake of the decision, a petition was launched by Reform UK to reverse the decision.

At time of writing, the petition has passed 115,000 signatures.

Speaking to Martin Daubney, GB News’ Chief Political Correspondent, Katherine Forster said: "I was in a lobby briefing with the Prime Minister's official spokesman a bit earlier.

"They say that they totally reject that [Mar Farage’s banana republic claims].

"They say that what this is about is a huge reorganisation of local government that hasn't been done for 50 years.

"They're getting rid of local councils, district councils and county councils are scrapping them completely, replacing them with bigger councils to manage local government."

Ministers have invited 63 areas to set out their views, with a deadline of January 15.

It is understood the following councils have been invited:

• Adur District Council
• Basildon Borough Council
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
• Blackburn with Darwen Council
• Brentwood Borough Council
• Broxbourne Borough Council
• Burnley Borough Council
• Cambridge City Council
• Cannock Chase District Council
• Cheltenham Borough Council
• Cherwell District Council
• Chorley Borough Council
• City of Lincoln Council
• Colchester City Council
• Crawley Borough Council
• East Sussex County Council
• Eastleigh Borough Council
• Epping Forest District Council
• Essex County Council
• Exeter City Council
• Fareham Borough Council
• Gosport Borough Council
• Hampshire County Council
• Harlow District Council
• Hart District Council
• Hastings Borough Council
• Havant Borough Council
• Huntingdonshire District Council
• Hyndburn Borough Council
• Ipswich Borough Council
• Isle of Wight Council
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
• Norfolk County Council
• North East Lincolnshire Council
• Norwich City Council
• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
• Oxford City Council
• Pendle Borough Council
• Peterborough City Council
• Plymouth City Council
• Portsmouth City Council
• Preston City Council
• Redditch Borough Council
• Rochford District Council
• Rugby Borough Council
• Rushmoor Borough Council
• South Cambridgeshire District Council
• Southampton City Council
• Southend-on-Sea City Council
• St Albans City and District Council
• Stevenage Borough Council
• Suffolk County Council
• Tamworth Borough Council
• Three Rivers District Council
• Thurrock Council
• Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
• Watford Borough Council
• Watford Borough Council Mayor
• Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
• West Lancashire Borough Council
• West Oxfordshire District Council
• West Sussex County Council
• Winchester City Council
• Worthing Borough Council